PNC employee group makes mark in communities

Aimed at helping to prepare children from birth to age five for success in school and life, the PNC Grow Up Great initiative is another program the African American EBRG is excited about, said Lomax. As a goal she says the initiative is one of their focuses. A $350 million, multi-year bilingual initiative, the PNC Grow Up Great and PNC Crezca con Éxito form a comprehensive, bilingual program designed to help prepare children, particularly underserved children, for success in school and life.

One component of Grow Up Great is the financial education initiative. According to PNC officials the 12 million dollar initiative serves children, their parents, caregivers and teachers to enhance financial education for families in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The initiative is designated to introduce one million multimedia kits with lessons and activities to enhance financial education for children; for the PNC Foundation to commit five million dollars to seed programs by non-profit organizations that provide financial education instruction and materials along with teacher training; to encourage children to learn basic financial concepts through activities and tips that highlight the importance of saving, spending and sharing, making choices and the value of people, things, and money; to engage parents in their children’s learning experience through a Parent/Caregiver Guide that provides ideas on how to easily introduce developmentally appropriate financial concepts and skills; to establish volunteer opportunities for PNC employees to assist non-profit organizations, teachers and instructors in support of the program and to reference a new children’s savings account supported separately by PNC Bank, the retail banking division of PNC.

Lomax said that EBRGs support PNC’s diversity and inclusion strategy and are a powerful tool to foster an inclusive culture. She said EBRGs are structured to support employees with a shared heritage, gender, sexual orientation or background, but are open to anyone who supports their mission.

“These groups provide opportunities for professional development, networking, sharing information, learning from each other, and otherwise contributing to PNC’s business success,” she said. Other than the African-American group other EBRGS are the Asian American Employee Business Resource Group, the Disability Awareness Employee Resource Group, the Latino Employee Business Resource Group, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Employee Business Resource Group, the Military Employee Business Resource Group, the Multicultural Employee Business Resource Group, the PNC Recognizing Emerging Professionals Employee Business Resource Group and the Women Employee Business Resource Group.

Pleased with the efforts and commitment of Lomax, a Westinghouse High School graduate and the African American EBRG, Taylor encouraged the group to continue their community outreach, mentoring and diversity and inclusion strategies. “The Holy Spirit is pleased with you,” she said.